In the bible, who is Jacob’s twin?
Introduction
Jacob was one of the most significant figures in the Old Testament and the history of Israel.
He was Abraham’s grandson and Isaac and Rebekah’s younger son.
He is the patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel. Jacob has an elder twin called Esau.
The Bible records that Isaac and Rebekah didn’t have any children because Rebekah was barren.
So, Isaac prayed, and God answered twenty years after their marriage.
God gave them a double blessing – two bouncing baby boys.
However, their birth came with a prophecy from the Lord.
God told Rebekah that two nations were in her womb. However, one would be stronger, and the older shall serve the younger (Genesis 25:23).
This prophecy plays out right before our eyes in the Bible as their story unfolds.
Esau was a hairy man.
The Bible describes him as red and like a hairy garment all over (Genesis 25:25).
He grew up to become a skillful hunter, spending much of his time in the field hunting games.
His father, Isaac, loved him because he always ate his game. However, Rebekah loved Jacob, a peaceful and quiet man who spent his time in the tent.
Two significant events transformed the dynamics of the brother’s relationship and their life’s journey.
Esau sold his birthright.
Esau came back from his regular trip in the field as a hunter. But his time around, he was weary and hungry. However, he met his twin brother, cooking a stew of lentils.
The redness of the stew enticed him, so he begged Jacob for some.
For some reasons best known to him, Jacob asked Esau for his birthright in exchange for a plate of stew of lentils and bread.
The birthright was a privilege given to the first son, qualifying him to get a double portion of his father’s estate and blessings.
Therefore, in exchange for food, Esau handed over his honor as the firstborn and all its benefits to his younger brother, Jacob.
His behavior has been termed carelessness and gluttony because his hunger would probably not have killed him even if he had spent extra hours preparing some meals for himself. But, it is the first step toward fulfilling God’s prophecy of Esau serving his younger brother, Jacob.
This event also proved that Jacob and Esau’s relationship might not have been smooth, probably because their parents’ preferential treatment toward their favorites had bread enmity between the boys.
That is because it’s strange for a brother to demand something as significant as a birthright because of a plate of stew and bread.
Jacob steals Esau’s blessings.
Isaac became old, and his eyes became dim.
So, he decided it was time to bless his sons because he didn’t know when he would die.
He called his first and favorite son, Esau, and told him to go to the field, hunt game and prepare a savory meal for him before he blessed him.
Esau took his weapons and dashed into the wild. However, Rebekah was eavesdropping.
So, she called her favorite son, Jacob, and told him all she had heard. They killed two kids of goats, and Rebekah prepared a good meal as tasty as her husband loved it.
Jacob then disguised as Esau.
With the help of his mother, he wrapped the hairy skin of the goats around his arms so he could appear hairy like Esau when Isaac touched him. It worked, and Isaac pronounced the blessings meant for the first son on him.
Esau returned from the field and realized that his brother had stolen his blessings from him just as he did his birthright.
Esau cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, begging his father for his blessings.
Isaac blessed Esau, but Jacob had already received the blessing meant for him as the first son.
Esau became angry and promised to kill Jacob after Isaac’s death. Rebekah heard this, and she helped Jacob escape.
Few lessons to learn here.
Firstly, Isaac’s blessings upon Jacob and Esau reiterated God’s prophecy to Rebekah about the first child serving the second.
When Isaac was pronouncing blessings on Jacob, he said, “Be master over your brethren, and let your mother’s sons bow down to you.” (Genesis 27:29)
When it was time to bless Esau, Isaac said, “And you shall serve your brother.” (Genesis 27:40)
Secondly, Jacob successfully got Esau’s blessings because he was technically the firstborn.
Esau seized being the firstborn the moment he exchanged it for a plate of stew and bread.
Their parents might still think Esau was the first child because they were not privy to what transpired between the two men. However, Jacob had bought the right to the firstborn blessings.
God blessed Esau
Many would have thought that Esau’s life would have turned out badly because he lost his birthright and firstborn blessings. However, the Bible records that many years after Jacob had run away from home, he came back to meet with Esau.
Esau had four hundred men with him when he came to meet Jacob. In the days of old, having such a number of people was a sign of great wealth. They could be his servants or his servants and family.
Whichever it was, Esau had become a great leader, having authority over a large number of people.
Also, declined Jacob’s generous gift of two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals, saying he had enough.
Although Jacob pleaded with him to receive the gifts as a sign that he had found favor in sight and the end of the rift between them, Esau was rich.
The New Testament’s Warning
“See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.” (Hebrews 12:16-17)
Jacob became the patriarch of the 12 tribes of Israel, and Esau was the father of the Edomites.
Although the two brothers settled their grievances, the two nations that came out of them remained enemies., but Israel always prevailed as prophecied.
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David Akeju is a Christian writer who believes in the transformational power of God’s Word. His articles and books have been published on global platforms, and thousands of lives have been touched. He works with pastors and ministers, churches and ministries, and brands.